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Michigan head coach John Beilein speaks with Zak Irvin during the Wolverines' exhibition game against Hillsdale College on Nov. 15, 2014.
(Patrick Record | The Ann Arbor News)
ANN ARBOR -- Zak Irvin is on the mend and Michigan basketball is hoping that, finally, once and for it all, it will soon be at full strength.
Irvin underwent back surgery at the University of Michigan Hospital on Thursday and is expected to miss six to eight weeks for recovery.
In an interview with "The Michigan Insider" on WTKA 1050-AM on Friday morning, U-M coach John Beilein said the procedure was a success.
"I believe that (in) the check-up this morning, all initial signs are that it was very successful," Beilein said.
Asked when Irvin's injury occurred, Beilein confirmed that it came this offseason.
Irvin was the only Michigan player to start all 32 games last year and averaged 36.2 minutes per game, ranking second in the Big Ten. The 6-foot-6 junior guard is the Wolverines' second-leading returning scorer at 14.3 points per game.
On Thursday night, Irvin published a picture on his Instagram account of himself offering two thumbs up from his hospital bed, along with the note, "Surgery went well! I appreciate all the texts and prayers!"
Irvin's six-to-eight week recovery is expected to put him back on the floor on the week of Michigan's preseason exhibition against Le Moyne on Nov. 6. The Wolverines will open the 2015-16 season the following week against Northern Michigan on Nov. 13.
At that point, U-M could be completely healthy for the first time in a long time.
"After graduation and the guys going into the NBA (after the 2013-14 season)," Beilein said, "we had our core four -- that was Spike (Albrecht) and Caris (LeVert), and Derrick (Walton Jr.) and Zak -- and two of those core four have been injured since virtually Dec. 1 of last year all the way to this point."
Beilein updated those additional injuries while on the air with WTKA:
* Beilein believes that by Michigan's opening game on Nov. 13, Albrecht will be "as quick as he's ever been."
Entering his senior year, Albrecht is coming off two offseason hip surgeries that shaved down a portion of the ball-and-socket hip joints and repaired a torn labrum. A fracture in one hip was also discovered.
Beilein said Albrecht's recovery has been "really good" and he recently made 60 of 85 3-pointer in his first return to practice when he was allowed to shoot.
"He probably has another good month (to be fully recovered) and that's perfect timing because we don't start until October 2nd or 3rd, when we actually (practice) 20 hours per week," Beilein said.
* Beilein said both Caris LeVert (foot) and Derrick Walton Jr. (toe/foot) have been "really good in their recovery."
In a recent workout, Beilein added, both were "exceptional."
"That was good," he said. "I thought they were right back where they were last year, but I think the skill level and their strength has probably been enhanced because they spent so much time in the weight room through the injuries."
LeVert and Walton's injuries date back to last season. LeVert missed the final 14 games after fracturing his foot and undergoing surgery, while Walton played most of the year with an injured left toe before missing the final 12 games due to the injury.
Brendan F. Quinn covers University of Michigan basketball and football. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on Wolverines hoops. He can be contacted at bquinn@mlive.com
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